S6 E10: What Are The Distractions In Life Keeping You From?

Well, happy first day of Spring! 

I’m not sure what places in the world are actually experiencing real Spring with the way the weather has been lately, but we’ll get there.

I’ve talked a little about how the past couple of years I’ve been more intentional about living my life around a circadian rhythm. Which if you don’t know is a 24-hour cycle that is part of our body’s internal clock)

So most days for me involve waking up and seeing the sunrise and winding down with the evening sunset.

In the last episode, I talked about God being the ultimate creator and artist, and if sunrise and sunset are not an example of a masterpiece I don’t know what is…

I’ve mentioned before how a few of my kids mock me when they witness me experience these moments like it’s the first time haha. It makes me laugh, most of the time because I realize how dramatic I seem but I’m literally in awe and it honestly sometimes takes my breath away.

I’ve had a great view of the sun rising where I live and have enjoyed being able to visibly see the process of the sun appearing on the horizon.  I knew this might change as I saw some construction started several months ago and worried my beautiful unobstructed view might be changing…

And I was right.

The buildings being constructed have gotten higher and hide the first glimpse of the sunlight appearing on the horizon from my view. I can eventually see it ….just not as easy.

I had the thought recently as I experienced not being able to see the sun rising as clearly as I had been able to because of the new big ‘distraction' in the way that this is a similar experience in our lives…

How often do we feel like it’s hard to see and experience God and his working in our life when the reality is oftentimes things that have been built up and taking up space in our lives that is distracting our view

He’s still there….we just can’t see because of the distraction.

The definition of distraction is: a thing that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else

I think we all know what a distraction is. And I would think for most of us when we hear that word or think about distractions in our lives we think of it as a negative thing…

And that’s the tricky thing because I think a lot of the things that distract us in our lives aren’t these big evil things that have glaring red flags warning us to beware…

No, I think most things are good things, just like the buildings going up that are blocking my view. Those buildings aren’t bad. They will provide housing for many people and businesses that will provide services and employ people.

And in order for those wonderful good things to happen, they have to take up space….lots of space.

It’s the same with you and me. Most of the things that are taking up space in our lives aren’t bad things…they’re just taking up a lot of space!

So how do we experience God in our spaces?

First of all,

We were never designed to live life outside of the presence of God. We were created to live and flourish in his presence. 

I reminded of Luke’s words in Acts 17:28 that say “in him we live and move and have our being” 

I believe sometimes we don’t experience him in the spaces of our life because we aren’t expecting him to be there so we aren’t looking at him.

Just like the morning sunrise was in the same place it had been, I wasn't seeing it because I was distracted by something that was taking up space and obstructing my view.  But with some intention on my part, I was able to see the light.

I don’t believe as some do that the sun is the Son. (Jesus) but I have found that experiencing the rising and the setting of the sun are sacred moments. I take these moments in with my senses and I feel like I am witnessing the everlasting and faithful God that has always been and always will be. The God who is present all through the dark night and awakens us with fresh mercy each and every morning.

There is a psalm of David that says 

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

He is present in our everyday ordinary spaces friend. Are you seeing him?

Are the spaces in your heart and mind so filled with all the things and all the thoughts that you haven't been able to get still and create the space to acknowledge and experience the presence of God?

He longs to be known in all of your spaces. The tidy ones as well as the messy ones. In the waking up and the lying down…

He’s here with us friends…

Just waiting to be seen.

Praying you will be intentional about taking some time at the start of a new week to be still and know that he is God and he is good.

Talk soon!